Letter to the Editor: Vote 'yes' on Measure J

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Michelle Gartner's letter urging a "No" vote on Measure J last week demonstrates a serious misunderstanding by her of what Measure J is about. I would urge her, and all Sun readers, to learn the facts about Measure J, and then join the many others who support the bond measure that will provide important facilities for all members of our community.

Measure J is a general obligation bond that will raise $8.5M for construction of two great facilities - an Aquatics Center and a Performing Arts Center (PAC). The TDRPD will add an additional $7M in reserves saved from construction of the new Community Center.

It is the best time to build these facilities because they are essentially "on sale" with interest rates and construction costs at extremely low levels. If we don't build these badly needed facilities now, we won't be able to afford them once the economy eventually recovers. Moreover, these projects will annually infuse over $2M into our local economy, not to mention the many jobs that they will create, both during construction, and later in their management.

Ms. Gartner's letter suggests that the TDRPD won't be able to attract ticket buyers to events at the PAC. But, it is not the TDRPD that will be producing the events; rather, those events will be produced by local arts, dance and drama organizations, and by producers of musical and theater events. Their efforts will lead to people buying tickets. TDRPD will merely own and rent the facility.

VenueTech Management Group, an independent theater consultant, carefully evaluated the PAC project on two occasions and made conservative projections about the PAC's annual income and expenses. TDRPD has sufficient financial resources, from several independent sources, with which to meet all net costs of operation.